November 24

Tuesday, November 24, 2009 15:09

1940

In “A frog and a cow” published in Cuu Vong Nhat Bao (Save the Country Daily), Nguyen Ai Quoc cited a fable by La Fontaine while commenting on the global situation.

The article read: “There are many people in the world like that frog. The fact that Italy's fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, who wants to occupy many countries rapidly as Hitler did, failed when ordering his troops to attack Greece is an example.

File photo of President Ho Chi Minh

“Mussolini tried his best to conduct a lightning war to swallow up Greek to show off his ability to Hitler. Unexpectedly, the Italian troops suffered failure after failure in the war. His illusion of a swift victory was reduced to ashes, like in the case of that frost.”

1945

President Ho Chi Minh, on behalf of the Viet Minh (League for the Independence of Vietnam) and Nguyen Hai Than and Vu Hong Khanh, who represented the Vietnamese Nationalist Party, signed the “Spirit of Solidarity” agreement to set up a coalition government, draft their political program and policies, make a joint declaration, confirm that the army belonged to the nation, put aside disputes among parties to serve the country’s interest, organize a military conference, avoid bloodshed among Vietnamese, defeat French colonialists, and achieve total independence for Vietnam.

1946

Addressing the first national cultural conference, the President said: “Vietnam’s new culture must be based on people’s happiness but it should selectively adopt the quintessence of other cultures. That way it can help drive back corruption, laziness, and luxury, and inculcate self-control and independence in people.

“Cultural workers should pay attention to children. Our children have made much progress in terms of culture. I, on behalf of all Vietnamese children, call on cultural workers to provide more care to children.”

1954

In “Small but significant deeds” in Nhan Dan (The People), the President praised the capital-based newspapers for their coverage of “good people, good deeds” and advised that a reward policy should be adopted to encourage everyone to act for the sake of the country.

1965

In a message to Hoc Tap (Learning) magazine on its 10th anniversary, the President wrote: “A revolutionary without revolutionary ideology is like a man walking in the dark. Party officials in every agency must learn and practice reasoning.”

He also advised writers to write simply and in the Vietnamese style and avoid using foreign words.

1966

In a congratulatory letter to the first Asian GANEFO in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the President said: “It is a large get-together at which emerging Asian forces show to the world their abundant sporting talent. It is also a chance for the Asian people show their common determination to fight imperialism and colonialism, led by the US, and to struggle for peace and independence.”

By Duong Trung Quoc* and his assistants*The author is a historian and member of the National Assembly